Urban Solace

I dont know why I hadn’t visited this place for so long. Located opposite the Ulsoor Lake, Urban Solace provides a great view with some good food. We landed there on a day when Vinod and me were so hungry that we could eat a horse.

We found our seats near the terrace area overlooking the lake which was perfect. Vinod could directly look into the next apartment and follow what was happening on their TV but then that’s a different discussion altogether.

Wasting no time, we dived straight into the menu and ordered for a chicken platter. The quantity was pleasing for the price. And for carnivores like us, this is a good meal in itself too. And somehow when you are extremely hungry, it’s surprising that you can’t eat much. How unfair! The platter had wings, crumb fried chicken breasts, chicken steak in brown sauce and sautéed chicken. Fantastic is the word.

Chicken Platter

Tom Yum Soup

The craving was for oriental food that day. Tom Yum soup was next on the menu. I loved this version of the soup. It was not clear like in most places but had that tinge of the Thai green curry and I totally welcomed it. Spicy and piping hot – this made my day.

Call me less adventurous, the Thai flavor won me over and Thai Green Curry rice was my choice for main course. A repeat of awesomeness with the coconut milk and the distinct fragrances that are distinct to Thai food. I wiped this dish clean and drank up the remaining gravy. I have not been to Benjaron or High on Thai but this was very close to what I had in Thailand, so I’d vouch for it.

Thai Green Curry Rice

Vinod had a beef stroganoff. This dish too was great with its creamy sauce, just right on spice and scored high on our list as well.

Beef Stronganoff

For dessert it was Choco Fudge. Gooey, soft, warm, very chocolately…if you are a chocolate lover, you’re going to order a second one of these and if you bake, you’re going to hold the chef at knife point for the recipe.

Choco Fudge

This meal, though after a tiring day made our evening. The open air seating and the great food would definitely call us back. And the best part, this place is very affordable (as compared to a lot of places that serve similar food).

Pay by : Cash and cards

Average meal for two : Rs 800

Mel’s overall rating : 3.5 out of 5

Location: 32, Annaswamy Mudaliar Road, Next to Tamil Sangam, Ulsoor Lake, Bangalore 560042. Ph: 080 25553656, 25553657, 9845013055.

 

 

Smoked Out Barbecue

So it was 6pm on a weekday, Vinod and me were still in office barely done with our day’s work. With a lot of work done that day, we thought we deserved a good meal rather than cook it ourselves. With this thought we were deciding on which place to try out. That’s when we came across ‘Smoked Out Barbecue’. I had read about this place a while ago and the location and the type of food seemed perfect for us.

We called the restaurant for directions. It was not difficult to find at all. What welcomed us was this little place adjacent to a service apartment. With a basic seating that can accommodate a maximum of 30 people, this place is neatly done up. No plush interiors here, it’s a semi outdoor seating.

The menu is not vast but boasts of their signature dishes. With a home style grill, this place promises a good American home BBQ experience. Once the meat is on the grill, the place is actually smoked out. For starters, everything on the menu looked inviting and so we asked for a Barbeque Platter. A dish that took about 30 mins or more to arrive but was totally worth the wait. Four very large wings, two drumsticks and a really large chicken thigh. I am so glad we were just the two of us. While the quantity was great, the taste was too good to share. The marinade was a predominantly ready to use bbq sauce with added spices. With a sweetish tinge, that how I like my sauce. This one was perfect.



BBQ Platter

The accompaniments

Tendeloin Steak

At the end of the platter we had little space left for main course and so opted to share a Tendeloin steak. We asked for it to be very well done. This one was extremely juicy and a little tangy too making it a great meal. The meal was not tough and hence we didn’t have to fight with the cutlery.

With, no space for desserts, we decided to call it a day. And we’re definitely going back there again!

Pay by : Cash or Credit Card

Restroom : Decent and manageable

Average meal for two : Rs 750

Mel’s overall rating : 3.5 out of 5

Location  : No. 426, 8th Main Road, 4th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore 560095. Ph : 080 40921023

The Only Place

A few years ago, when there weren’t as many restaurants, this place was a favourite for all special occasions. It was THE ONLY PLACE. There’s something about the place that draws you time and again. Be it the food that tastes like home or the warm interiors.

We made our way to OP this weekend and made it right on time for the last free table. There was a sense of quietness despite the crowd. The ambience reminds me of Goa with the tiled roof, a centre sun-lit area and homely lampshades. The sunlight through the Bamboo and over the pebbles, take you to a different time and place altogether. OK, I might be exaggerating a bit!

The food is European and OP luckily has not succumbed to Indo-European additions like most other places. No Chettinad Chicken steak here! So here is this menu where everything sounds good. I went there to relish the steak but I think I ordered everything but the steak.

First on order was the Chilly Beef. Tender meat, tossed with loads of green and ground pepper. This tasted just like the authentic Beef Chilli in a good Kerala restaurant or like the one that the neighboring Ammachi prepares. This one was ‘unputdownable’ until the last bite. I didn’t spare even the leftover-almost-nonexistent gravy.

Chilli Beef

 For a change we went for a soup. With a rigorous dance workout that was to follow, the hungry instincts suggested a Chicken Chowder Soup. Very few restaurants still have this on their menu. A thick broth of cornstarch and shredded chicken tasted so homemade that I wanted to call mom.

Chicken Chowder Soup

We had to eat ‘light’ and for main course ordered a Chicken Tetrazini out of the steaks and a OP Special Sheperd’s pie. The Chicken Tetrazini featured in both the bakes’ and the steak sections. Though we asked for a steak, I am sure we were served a bake. But there was so much cheese on it that we loved this happy mistake. Though this was Vinod’s lunch, I managed to dig in until the cheese was gone.

OP Special Shepherd's Pie

Chicken Tetrazini

The Sheperd’s pie in front of me was above average. The minced meat with spiced baked in a loaf and hiding under creamed potatoes was very filling. For Bangaloreans who have tried the spice sausages from The Ham Shop, this was like a loaf made of the sausage filling. Why wouldn’t I like it?

To wrap up our ‘light’ lunch we ordered for an Apple Pie that many people recommend at OP. Of course with a heavy heart I had to say no to the other interesting cheesecakes, mousse cakes and pies. Chunks of crunchy apples in a gooey sweet mix resting on a pastry bed made a good ending. Be warned that this dish is extremely sweet and might be an overdose sometimes.

Apple Pie

 I would not bet my money on the food here because there are a lot of great choices in the city. But The Only Place never disappoints if you are looking for a quaint restaurant for a small birthday treat or a date. What also struck me was that they never played any music as long as we were there giving us more time to talk to each other.

Pay by : Cash or Credit Card

Restroom : Outside the restaurant but decent.

Average meal for two : Rs 1200

Mel’s overall rating :3.5 out of 5

Location: No 13, Museum Road, Bangalore 560001. Ph : 080 32718989

Grill House

We’ve been frequenting the Ulsoor Lake – Frazer town area for our dance lessons (Yes, the calories do bother us! ) and so we decided to try more eating joints around these places. So this weekend, Grill House it was.  For the shopaholics, Grill House is a little further down 1 MG Road, the latest mall in the vicinity. For the old timers, this place is just a few buildings away from The Park hotel. For lunch, parking didn’t seem an issue however in the evenings, it could be a slight concern.

The ambience is ranch-like and carries  a western steak-house feel to it. Heavy wooden furniture add to the rugged look. The menu here has a wide range of veg and non-veg starters, sizzers and steaks, salads and dessert.  A full-fledged bar menu also ensures the thirst is quenched. There are a few things I have to order when I see them in a  menu. For eg, The Buffallo wings and Bloody/Virgin Mary. Vinod has almost begun to taunt me for my obsession.



Buffallo Wings



The Buffalo Wings were tossed in a sauce that was quite different from the ones we had tried elsewhere. The waiter  asked us to  choose from mild, medium or hot sauce and we bravely picked the hot one. But it was not so bad when it arrived. I was imagining tears and a running nose but this was very much manageable. Pepper was used in abundance but the sweetness of the sauce overpowered it. I would have preferred the wings a little less sweeter but Vinod seems to like them this way. 

Virgin Mary

Sunset Cooler

Of course, the Virgin Mary was close to perfect. Had to skip the alcohol in this one owing to dance class. Having tasted BM in SEVERAL places, I can clearly tell the superiority of one drink from the other and even the difference in ingredients. This one was fabulous. Perfectly spiced. Hubby chose a Sunset Cooler – a mix of cranberry juice, orange juice, lemon juice and Sugar syrup. Quite light and refreshing.

We did not over order this time. One starter and we were up for main course. I picked the Moroccan Lamb Sausages - Grill House Special of lamb sausages grilled, served with pepper sauce, rice and mash on a  plate instead of a sizzler. The presentation didn’t appeal to me much. With my first bite into the sausages I realized that I was not too fond of lamb sausages. but overall it was not a bad buy. The portion too was good. I was glad I didn’t opt for the sizzler. 

Moroccan Lamb Sausages

Twice Marinated Steak

Vinod ordered for the Twice Marinated Steak - the chef's special steak, marinated twice, served with two pepper sauce. This was a great choice. We asked for the steak to be well done on a sizzler plate and Grill House is right about the ‘Marinated Twice’ bit. The juicy meat proved that in every bite.  Somehow since both our dishes has a pepper sauce, we almost felt we ate the same stuff.

As we were finishing our main course, a polite waiter arrived with a tray of sinful cheese cakes. We had to decline the offer twice as politely. With a full tummy and a dance workout on the way, this was the best decision. I wouldn’t say Grill House is one of the best places in town for steak but it is definitely worth a try if you are on this side of town.

Pay by : Cash and cards

Restroom : Very clean with neat interiors

Average meal for two : Rs 1400 (with mocktails)

Mel’s overall rating : 2.5 out of 5

Location: #8/6, Ulsoor Road, Bangalore- 560 008. Ph No. 080 4097 7011 or  81478 62595

Pizzeria Romano

When we intended to go out on dinner that weekend, we had a place serving coastal food in mind. As we were travelling, all of a sudden we decided to try a different place. We had seen Pizzeria Romano many times before but never really ventured inside. Vinod and me had lots to “discuss” and decided we could give ourselves a luxury meal that evening.

The restaurant is situated amongst many other restaurants in Koramangala 6th block. As we entered the gate, a waitress ushered us to the first floor. Posters covering every inch of the wall is what welcomes you as you take the flight of stairs. As you enter the restaurant, the décor screams out the theme of music and movies. Every rock star you can think of has found a place on the wall here. We took a while just to look around. Though at first everything looked crowded and cluttered, it didn’t take time for us to slip into nostalgia. The place sure reminds you of your favourite singers and movies through your growing years.

The contemporary, plush interiors offer different sections of seating depending on the kind of privacy you expect. The lighting of the place gives it a very warm look. We forgot we had to “discuss” something and took the seats right opposite the band. Yes, there was a band playing that night. The three member band sang some fabulous cover versions.  A perfect way to start the evening I must say.

Now the objective of this review- the food! Pizzeria Romano believes in serving superb Italian and continental food. The menu runs into pages and offers a wide variety of pizzas and a vast choice of pastas, risottos, chargrilled, meats, exotic salads and desserts. This is no average priced place. Be ready to cough up a good amount if you want to enjoy a meal.

For starters, we ordered a Tex Max Buffalo Wings. This was the first time I actually ordered wings at a restaurant other than KFC. The dish was fiery red and rested on white plate. The sharp tangy and spicy smell of it had my mouth watering. With no delay, I dug my knife and fork into grilled chicken wings marinated in Indian spices served with sun dried tomato chilly pesto. The so called marinade looks like the Indian masala and tastes fantastic. The hot spice of the chilli as against the tangy taste of the sundried tomatoes created a superb blend of flavours. The wings though grilled were easy to bite into. The meat was absolutely tender and delectable.

Tex Max Buffalo Wings

To beat the heat, we ordered some mocktails. We decided to skip alcohol this time. I was brave to try a mocktail called Crazy Knockers. I specifically asked for a spicy drink. This one had a spicy syrup mixed with a ginger syrup and topped with soda and Sprite. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? It tasted crazy too, but in the good sense. It shook my senses thoroughly. Don’t try this if you are not in for some adventure.

Crazy Knockers

Vinod orders safe and chose a Virgin Pina Colada. The usual concoction of pineapple juice staright out of the can, thick coconut milk, cream and sugar to sweeten it. It was filling to say the least considering the tall glass it was served in.

Virgin Pina Colada

At Pizzeria Romano don’t skip the pizzas. There are a zillion options to choose from. Ask the staff there to help you choose. I am meat lover. The more I can get my hands on, the happier I am. After giving a lot of thought I opted for a Joyride pizza. Perfectly baked pepperoni, hot Italian sausage, pepper bacon made sure the meats absolutely pleased the senses. Not just this, the pizza was also topped with caramelized onions, garlic, oregano and hot chilli peppers all laid on a thin crust. I am fan of the deep dish crust at Dominos and usually avoid thin crusts but given the toppings of this one, the crust didn’t matter at all.  Spicy is an understatement for this pizza.

Joyride

I went a step ahead and ate it with some red chilli pepper saucy. Super hot! The waitress suggested we try a wood fired pizza. The cooking surface of these ovens is apparently between 500-600 degrees, the upper chamber of the oven can reach over 900 degrees. The heat produced is very dry, which is perfect for quickly sealing in flavors. We’ll buy that explanation anyways since the pizza was like a mouthful of heaven in every bite.

Vinod wanted something from the steak section and chose a Chicken Pepperonata. Exotic as the name sounds, this dish came like a mountain on a plate as against a steak in a sauce that we were expecting. The long pieces of chicken were very visible amongst the bell peppers and was a delight to the eyes. The meat was exceptionally tender and was marinated with mild spices and herbs. The bell peppers were of all colours the market had to offer. After two pieces of chicken, we were left with a heap of peppers. The tomato sauce in it made it palatable but it was definitely a rip off. For the rest of the meal, Vinod and me kept finishing the peppers.

Chicken Pepperonata

Pizzeria Romano is great place to take your special someone on a nice dinner or lunch. A little overpriced, I cannot really say that it is value for money. The prices on the menu are without taxes and amount to a good sum on the bill. The cocktails are priced way too high to leave your throat dry. Will I go there again? Sure I will! But only when I feel rich.

Pay by : Cash and cards

Restroom : Did not explore

Average meal for two : approx Rs 1500 (including mocktails)

Mel’s overall rating : 3.5 out of 5

Location: 55, 5th Cross, 6th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore. Ph: 080 40953751 / 52,